More Education or More Guns?

Waking this morn I lazily made my way down to the kitchen for breakfast to find the Minneapolis Star Tribune sitting on the table as usual. Turning through the pages I came across a story that caught my attention. Here is a link to the story: Bush vetoes spending bill

This was an unsettling way to start one's day! This just shows what kind of person George W. Bush is. Instead of supporting a bill that would help fund education, labor and health programs within our country, he decides to give our country more guns so that we can send more young people overseas to be killed in an unpopular and unsuccessful war! How can we support a man that does this? This is not wise leadership in my opinion.

Bush claims to be a "born again" Christian, which I cannot judge whether or not that is true. I may have some assumptions, but God is the only one that knows a person's hearts truly. Yet, I cannot possibly conceive someone who desires to live in the ways of Jesus Christ to make many of the decisions that Bush and the leadership in our country have made. This type of "Christian practice" is what has drawn me away from mainstream, conservative, western Christianity. This "health and wealth" gospel is far from what Christ has taught us. Christ called us to be different, to change the world for the better.

Is the image of the war in Iraq portraying this idea of difference? Some say that it is; that we are liberating the Iraqi people. I think it is too hard to distinguish bullshit from truth with our media today, and so one must take what evidence is given them and make their decision based upon what facts they believe to be true. I believe the cries and pleadings of the Iraqi people to end this war is evidence enough to get our troops out and establish some type of peace. PEACE. What a wonderful concept--what a complex concept--what an almost impossible concept. We must try, though! Otherwise, who will?

Anger Dealing with the Mystery

I find myself constantly questioning the mysteries that life gives me. At this stage in my life, I feel as though I cannot take the answer"Well God does it for (this reason or that)." Isn't there more to this picture than that?

The reason these ideas have popped into my skull is that I found out yesterday that my uncle, whom I am close to, has acute leukemia. At first I was stunned, I didn't actually believe it. Then I felt an anger fill up inside me, then I broke out in tears! This situation brings me back to the question "Why?". I haven't a clue! There may be scientific reasoning behind it, but there is no rational reasoning. Sometimes I get very agitated with God and the things he allows to happen. I don't blame God for the bad things that happen, but I do wonder why.

I believe God has been given too much credit for the bad things in our world, but I also believe he has been given too much credit for the good things in our world. Maybe he is just an observer and doesn't involve himself in the goings on of earth. This approach is not convincing enough for me. I feel as though I have experienced God. I feel his spirit within me daily. I feel him all around me and in everything around me. I do believe he is here. This is yet another reason why this is so hard for me. If I do believe he is here, why does he allow this to happen?

This brings us back to the "fall of humankind;" our "sin" has caused this evil to produce and thrive all over our globe. This is hard for me to accept wholly, as well. I just feel that there has to be something more. That humans can better the things of this world. I believe that evil can be triumphed over and that we and our inherent good within us can overcome evil if we truly decide to do so. There is so much hate in the world, but I wholeheartedly believe that love is there and it will prevail. I guess you can call this hope! I have hope in God and the love he has given us.

I pray this Psalm for all those who cannot explain the evil in life, but have hope in the love - "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." - Psalm 33:22

One Big Question

Isn't life really just one big, complex question? I am one of over 6 billion people who is trying to make some kind of sense out of all of this. I am trying to make sense of life. Is there an answer? I don't know. I don't think anyone does. This blog will portray my perspective and experiences within this wonderful and mysterious journey we call life. I don't know what that will look like and I caution readers that what they may read may not be pleasant or tasteful to their ears. But it is real. Here goes...